Fifty years with CONO Cheesemakers. That's not just an anniversary, that's a story of dedication, craftsmanship and down-to-earth pride. Pieter ter Beek started as a sixteen-year-old vacation worker and grew to become head of the cheese factory. A lifetime of making cheese, and still with pleasure every day.

From warehouse to cheese factory

"My very first day was in the warehouse," Pieter says. "Turning cheeses, rinsing barrels, all by hand. It was noisy and cozy. That's how it was back then." His route went from barrel rinser to presser, drainer, tray worker, cheesemaker, deputy chef and finally chef. "I did everything. That's what makes the work beautiful: you're really working on something from start to finish."

Every day different

What has driven Pieter for fifty years? "Making cheese remains special. Milk is different every day, so you have to keep thinking, keep adjusting. It's not assembly line work, it's craft." Meanwhile, his workday starts early, at 5:30 a.m., and consists mostly of planning, ordering and consulting. But the love for the product is unchanged.

The power of change

Pieter experienced the transition from the old to the new cheese factory. "We were really ready for it. We were at our maximum capacity. Sometimes the demand was really high, and I was proud of the team that they were able to deliver enough every time. In the new cheese factory a lot has been automated. And yet the craft remained: the basis of cheese making is still the same. We really still stir curds by hand." With a wink, he adds, "Turning 13-kilogram cheeses is thankfully a lot easier now."

Proud of the team

What makes him most proud? "That as a team we can handle any demand. There is always a solution. Together we get it done." And you can taste that, Pieter thinks. His favorite cheese? "Old 35+ cheese, from the fist. And yes, I have tasted a lot of cheese - even at the market in Alkmaar."

New generation, same pride

To new colleagues, Pieter comments, "We are making something real, something artisanal. You see the whole process, and that makes the work valuable." Outside of work hours, he relaxes with puzzles of thousands of pieces. "I can clear my head nicely with that."
What CONO means to Pieter in one word? "Pride. Everyone does their stinking best. You can feel that. And I am part of that."